This episode features the Veterans Mural, on the building at 135 4th Ave East. The mural faces east overlooking King St. This 92’ x 20’ painting features local military heroes and their families.

It was painted by Andrea Martin, an interior designer, artist, and muralist based in Hendersonville, NC. She is a native of Henderson County and owns Meliora Cabinetry in downtown Hendersonville. She has painted dozens of murals all over the Southeastern U.S.

After being moved by the story of a veteran that had experienced criticism, stress, and negativity after returning from Vietnam, Andrea was motivated to find a building on which she could paint a mural in tribute to all veterans. She had to be persistent and resourceful to make it happen, working with the building owner, navigating city regulations, trying to find time while working another full-time job, and enduring the challenges of painting her first mural. She overcame them all and completed the mural. To her surprise it won a national award for the most striking mural in the nation in 2016.

Andrea starts by telling us how she found the building and the perseverance she had to exhibit to make it happen. Then she will describe each of the images in the mural and their meaning and symbolism.